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Research Ethics at Conestoga

The Research Ethics Board (REB)

All proposals to conduct research involving human participants at or within Conestoga College are subject to a review and approval process through the Research Ethics Board (REB).

The REB is a volunteer committee of experienced researchers and subject matter experts. We review all research protocols involving human participants and apply the principles of the Tri-Council Policy Statement v2 (TCPS 2): Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans. These principles, Respect for Persons, Concern for Welfare and Justice are essential pillars to research conducted under the auspices of Conestoga College. The REB has the goal of facilitating applied research activities, and research activities within the classroom, in accordance with these principles.

Conestoga College is a participant in the Research Ethics Multi-College Review process. Other colleges involved in the project, which was developed by the Colleges Ontario Heads of Applied Research Subcommittee on Research Ethics, include Centennial, Fanshawe, George Brown, Georgian, Niagara and Sheridan.

Conducting Research at Conestoga College

For faculty and external researchers:

STEP 1: Complete and submit an application form:

Ontario Common College REB Application formThis form is for researchers who are planning to conduct research at multiple colleges in Ontario. Several colleges have agreed to accept the Ontario Community College Common REB application form. If your study will take place at two or more of the colleges listed here, please use this form.

STEP 2: Complete and submit the following required supporting documentation:

Locally Responsible Investigator signature formIf the Principal Investigator is not on staff at Conestoga College then your research proposal requires a Locally Responsible Investigator (LRI). The LRI must be a current employee at Conestoga College. The REB Coordinator can assist you with finding an LRI.

For students and internal researchers:

Support

Applying for approval:

How do I know if my research requires REB approval?If your research involves the participation of humans through any type of survey, interview, focus group, questionnaire, testing, etc. your research proposal may require REB approval.

If you are unsure whether your research requires REB approval you may find the ARECCI Screening Tool helpful; it is a four-step, web-based Ethics Screening Tool developed to provide practical decision-support assistance to project leaders and teams.

If you are still unsure, please contact the REB Coordinator to discuss the project further.

I'm just going to ask a few questions. Do I really need research ethics clearance?Yes. Conestoga College REB policy and the TCPS 2 requires that research carried out with human beings must have ethics clearance before your research can begin. Contact the REB Coordinator for more information and assistance.

I have a lot of research experience already, do I need to complete the TCPS 2 online tutorial?Yes. Conestoga College requires that all researchers complete the TCPS 2 online tutorial. Submission of your completion certificate is a required document for your application. Completion of the tutorial may take two to three hours. It can be done in sections and saved so that you do not have to complete all modules at one time.

What documentation do I need to include with my submission?In addition to your application form (see Step 1), Conestoga College requires a number of additional supporting documents (see Step 2) including:

Checklist for info letter and consent form (this will help you to ensure that you have included all the recruitment notices, consent forms, data collection forms, etc., that are required for your application)

How can I help ensure my application is reviewed quickly? Unclear or incomplete applications take longer for the REB to review. Make sure your methodology is clear and detailed and check your application for spelling and typing errors.

Another major cause of delay is failure to submit all of the additional required supporting documents as outlined in step 2. Ensure that your entire application package is complete prior to submission.

Please note that your application package will not move forward for review until all required documents have been received.

How long does the ethics review process take? The Conestoga College REB aims to advise applicants of the results of the review within 10-15 business days of the original submission date. If you have a more urgent need for review, please contact the REB Coordinator to discuss how it may be accommodated. Review times may increase during peak periods, such as at the beginning of a new semester.

Does the REB have a submission deadline? The Conestoga College REB does not have submission deadlines, so you may submit your application at any time.

Please note that the Conestoga College REB does not hold meetings in July or August. Review times may increase during the summer months.

Can I talk to someone before I submit my application?How should I communicate with the REB? You may contact the REB via email. Check your inbox spam settings to make sure email responses from the REB are not blocked.

After approval:

Can I make a change to my research that has already been cleared by the REB? The REB has a Change Request form for revisions or amendments to originally cleared research submissions. Instructions on completion are found in the form. Change Requests are reviewed by the REB Co-Chairs and generally have a shorter turn-around time.

Uh-oh.Something went wrong in the course of my research.What do I do?Any undesirable experience or response is considered an adverse event. The adverse event may be emotional, psychological or physiological in nature. The Principle Investigator is responsible for reporting any injury, adverse event, or detrimental incident experienced by a research participant that is/may be related to the research procedures. Complete the Adverse Events Report and submit to the REB Coordinator as soon as possible:

How long is my ethics approval good for?Certificates of Ethical Acceptability are valid for one year from the original date of approval.

My research may take more than one year to complete.How can I extend/renew the approval period?The REB Coordinator will send you a renewal/completion reminder at least one month prior to the expiry of your ethical approval. At that time you may submit a Renewal Request noting that the study is still active if you wish to renew the approval for another year, or you may submit a Completion Report noting that the study is no longer active and you wish to close the project.

Faculty:

Is there someone who can come and speak to my class about research ethics?Yes. Members of the REB are available to make a presentation or speak to your class about research ethics. Please contact the REB coordinator by email or phone at 519-748-5220 ext. 7105 to set up a time.

I am teaching a course that will have student projects involving research with humans. Can I submit one application for the entire class?Yes. There is a separate course-based application for instructors who teach courses where students engage in minimal risk research projects with human participants. Consult the guidelines in the application or talk with the REB Coordinator about your course projects. Remember that because different instructors set different projects for their students, course-based clearance is granted to the instructor of each course on an individual basis.

Please refer to the course-based research guide for more information and detailed instructions on how to apply.